Omaha daily bee., 1887-07-18
The Prince.Whittaker Chase.


was amply verified. There was great sport
there and very large and enthusiastic
crowd witnessed it. In the grand stand
there were probably four hundred people,
ladies and gentlemen, while the bleaching
boards were jammed, and carriages were
numerous in the extreme Outfeld.
The Secon / infantry band occupied seats
in the east wing of the grand stand.
The judges, X. f. McKelvy and the sport
ing editor of the BEE and the timers, Lucien
Stephens and }. G. Crawford were chosen
and the initial event of the day was on.
This was a quarter mile professional foot
race, two best in three, with George Ken.
dali, Fred Cunningham and Jesse Butler as
the starters, Kendall / and Cunningham in
Butler, black trunks and sandals. Harry
Currier was starter, and at the crack of the
pistol the racers got off we'll together. and
after splendid dash Cunningham crossed
Butler was never In the race. Time-l:57.
The second heat was taken by Kendall in
100. and the third and race by Cunningham
in SO.
Following this came the halt mile amateur
foot race with j. j. Gromme, Ed Washburne,
p. j. Kirby and Elmer Kane as the starters,
Gromme winning in two straight heats, in
2:224 and 2:2G; Washburne second, Kirby
The third event was tive-mile ANA
teur bicycle chase. handicap, with
John Royston, Deal WeItz and Charles Pix
start and Pixey, the kid, one-half mile start.
PiXley was an easy winner, but tie struggle
for second place between Royston and Wertz
was sufficiently close to arouse at least a
semblance of enthusiasm. Result: Pixley
first in Is :29l5 and Wertz second, 1894,
The five mile professional cycle chase be-
tween Thomas w. Eek, Toronto; w. f.
Knapp, Denver, and Charles Ashinger and
Ed. Bullock, Omaha, followed.
Mr. Eek made a good beginning, setting
the pace and keeping in the van for the first
mile, but here he began to flag, and in com
pany with Bullock, dropped hopelessly to
the rear, leaving all interest centsred in
Knapp and Ashinger, who fought bitterly for
victory. Ashinger maintained an uninter'
rupted lead until the first turn in the last lap,
when knapp threw IN q little extra tar and
q second the best of him. Time ID :5Ss%.
1t might not be amiss to state that Ashlng
er was handicapped by the fact that he rode
heavy roadster and Knapp full racer
black jersey suit and old gold sash, now
rode out upon the track. and was welcomed
by burst OF cheers from the grand stand,
while the band cracked away at that old
chestnut, "See, tho COnQuering Hero
But for nonnce the gentlemen of the con.
voluted brass were mistaken, as the sequel
will show.
The next moment Mr.. Prince. in a Jersey
suit of peacock blue and broad Birmingham
smile, rolled out, amidst the plaudts of his
| friends, and up to the scratch, where he
stopped, dismounted and awaited the arrival
oil his doughty rival
In another moment they were off, and a
prettier cycle chase was never witnessed.
| Prince got the start, but was quickly passed
| by Whitaker, who led the way for seven
| miles, when positions were shifted for a lap
| or two, when Whitaker again resumed the
| front, and kept it until the outset OF the last
| mile. Here the cerulean hued Englishman
] bent to his work with almost superhuman
| vigOr, and despite the fact that Whitaker
ratting gait, he shot by him
| with the swiftness of canvas
back upon the wing. Whittaker's nose ap-
| preached closer and closer to the tire, his
| naked and very unsymmetrical shins worked
| like pistons, but all TO no avail While the
| finish was most thrillingly and excltngly
close, and made amidst the widest and most
enthusiastic confusion OF the delighted
/ throng, he shot across the chalk line like a
blue streak, yet with but foot or two to